Busted Butt Plugs

[vaultmd]

One thing to keep in mind is that they need to be fully seated when one jumps. Some athletes drag the butt end of the pole when they walk down the runway. Once I realized I needed to tamp the butt plug down before taking a jump I haven't gone through one since. Of course, I don't hit the box nearly as hard a before, either.

Butt plugs have been called butt plugs since almost the dawn of time. Anyone with a problem with that needs to get his or her head out of the gutter.

[Soar Like an Eagle]

When you get a new pole and/or need to change the pole tip use fine sand paper to lightly/carefully sand the bottom, inner and outer edge of the pole then apply a small strip of athletic tape around the bottom of the pole then put your pole tip in and that will help you from destroying the pole tip. Also, make sure you use the correct size butt plug for your pole. When doing pole runs on the track, put a tennis ball over the pole tip and that will help keep the pole tip from getting worn down from the friction of the track.

So my athletes have busted three butt plugs on three separate poles since the season began in February.

Unfortunately two of them were on 11' 120 poles, the only two such poles I have. I pulled off a butt plug from a 12'4 120 pole and put it on the 11' 120, only to have the athletes bust that one in about 10 days.

My question to the audience is: Is this normal?? They aren't new poles or anything, but that third plug was in good used condition when I put it on. If they are doing something wrong, what could it be?

Second question being: my third plug is ripped through, but only about half way. I have a meet tomorrow and of course my replacement plugs are in a delivery truck somewhere - Is it legal/safe to use that pole with the damaged plug?

Thanks ahead of time, I'm a new coach and honestly never had this problem when I competed back in the day.

[Tim McMichael]

If you are transferring energy efficiently you will have much less problems with your plugs. On a plant that is even a little low or late or under energy will be transferred directly down the length of the pole for a split second before it starts to bend. This blows the plug out. In my experience, I never ruined a single plug of any kind once I got my plant timed up right. In the meantime, a small strip of tape over the very end of the pole to blunt the sharp edges will make your tips last longer.

[vaultmd]

Tim,

Welcome to polevaultpower!

[Tim McMichael]

Thanks, this is an awesome board. I notice that no one else uses their actual name for their username so I feel like a dork, but its too late to change it now.

[Cooleo111]

I bought two new Essx poles about 2 weeks ago, and have only used them in two meets so far and the tips are already sheared through. I'm going to order new Essx tips anyway because they guarantee them, but would it be safe/smart to put a metal washer inside the tip so the pole doesn't cut through it? Or has anyone actually filed down the pole so it doesn'tcut through like Bruce said? If not, I may just use a Gill tip because I have never busted one of those.

Thanks

[Bruce Caldwell]

I bought two new Essx poles about 2 weeks ago, and have only used them in two meets so far and the tips are already sheared through. I'm going to order new Essx tips anyway because they guarantee them, but would it be safe/smart to put a metal washer inside the tip so the pole doesn't cut through it? Or has anyone actually filed down the pole so it doesn'tcut through like Bruce said? If not, I may just use a Gill tip because I have never busted one of those.

Thanks

GIll and Spirit tips are good to use on ESSX poles if they are fitted to the size pole.
Yes we are having a problem on our new tip working on a solution. We have never sold any at the $19.95 price so we have only just put them on the poles to test.
IF you are a flat jumper they wear out right away and if you jump properly they last a few weeks. We are working on a new formula and durometer. Soon will solve the problem if you have a problem with our new tips just send the old ones back to us address at www.xlogicsports.com and $5.00 for handeling and postage we wil replace them free.Bruce